Just a quick giveaway post today (You’re SO disappointed, right?!) and it has to do with more COFFEE! Yes, I love coffee, in every form, at any time, for any reason. I start my day with a giant Bulletproof coffee and I love making it with the best coffees I can find. So imagine my delight when I received an email from Puro Fairtrade Coffee from the UK! Here is some information regarding the brand:
Hi, we are Puro Fairtrade Coffee out of the UK and more than likely a large number of coffee drinking readers might not have heard of us before, as we don’t have our own cafes and you won’t find us in supermarkets. We are quite popular within Europe but have yet to come to the USA. We are currently looking for a US distributor and hope that maybe by sharing this information, someone in that lovely country might get in touch ;)…
Miko is one of the oldest coffee roasters in the world, family owned and Belgian born in 1801.
Miko created Puro in 2004, a brand dedicated to sourcing shade grown Fairtrade coffee that looks well beyond ethics to also address environmental issues. The future of coffee farming and its habitat is underpinned by rainforest preservation and restoration, together with limiting the impact of climate change. A unique partnership was forged with World Land Trust, strategically directing a percentage of global Puro coffee sales into the purchase and protection of rainforest in coffee producing countries. Focus is on primary rainforest with exceptional biodiversity, home to endangered species and under imminent threat of deforestation.
Sustainability
Sustainability is at the forefront of each stage within the coffee journey. Puro coffee is sourced from Fairtrade co-operatives that bring together hundreds of smallholder farmers who share their knowledge and passion for growing coffee under the shade of native trees, in harmony with the environment.
Miko’s roasting plant in Belgium is strategically placed near to Antwerp, the world’s second largest coffee port and its roof is covered with 90,000m2 of solar panels providing for all electricity needs. Residual heat from the roasting process is readirected to power underfloor heating throughout the factory and offices. Coffee chaff generated through roasting is given to local organic farmers for fertilising their fields.
Another partnership in the UK combines used coffee grounds from filter and espresso generated at key client sites with food waste, creating compost. But it doesn’t end there; Puro’s coffee foils are even upcycled into bags, flower pots and dresses.
Some of the positive results
Puro coffee sales to date, have funded the protection of more than 10,000 acres of rainforest across 6 countries.
The Puro Guatemalan Rainforest Reserve safeguards both rainforest and water sources used by local villages and coffee farmers. New species of tree, frogs and orchids (one named after Puro) were discovered in the Puro Ecuadorian Rainforest Reserve. Puro also employs a ranger there for protection against loggers and poachers. In 2007, whilst some of the Puro Fairtrade Coffee team were trekking through the Puro Ecuadorian Rainforest Reserve, some new species of orchid were discovered. One of these orchids was later named after us.
In 2008, together with Sir David Attenborough, we launched a webcam in the rainforest to the media.
The Puro Colombian Rainforest Reserve offers the only protected location in the world for the Golden Poison Arrow Frog, one of the most poisonous animals on earth, still relied upon by indigenous hunters but critically endangered and close to extinction. A lodge within the Puro Brazilian Rainforest Reserve facilitates educational visits from Puro’s clients, consumers and employees.
Alongside Fairtrade, we want to communicate the threat to the rainforest and the need to preserve it. Imagine the amount of coffee consumed every day all over the world! By putting messages on our cups and sharing our stories and videos with our clients and consumers, we think we can help make a difference. We also want to show other companies that people and our planet are just as important as profit. In order to help spread this message, we’ve created a short film for you to share:
Puro Fairtrade Coffee from Puro Fairtrade Coffee on Vimeo.
Puro sent me three of their very lovely coffees to try and I have to say, they were absolutely delicious. I am a complete coffee snob, so I take my beans seriously. One of my favourites has to be the Organic Fairtrade beans; beautiful, smooth and not too strong (I’m a big light roast fan).
Puro has also been quite generous with wanting to give my readers the very same package I have received (in the photo above), so enter below!
Follow Puro coffee here:
So cool to hear about other sourcers/roasters around the world. Canada does have some goodies, but it seems to be pretty sheltered from the many great companies outside of our zone. Definitely keen to give Puro a go.
Christina recently posted..millet & honey banana bread {and pour over coffee}
I love their story, very inspirational and I hope they continue to grow and we find them here in the US eventually, I certainly would buy their coffee after reading their story. Thank you Elizabeth for introducing them and I’ll keep my fingers crossed they turn up here. I’m also a big fan of BP coffee every morning…..just makes my day.
Is the bulletproof coffee the same thing as “butter coffee”? I’ve heard nothing but amazing stories about it. I think it’s time I try some. Thank you for the beautiful story 🙂
It is indeed!